Hector Berlioz’s first opera Benvenuto Cellini. The story is loosely based on the memoirs of the Florentine sculptor Benvenuto Cellini. The opera is quite challenging technically and rarely performed. It is not part of the standard operatic repertoire. The overture to the opera often played in orchestral programs, as well as the concert overture Le carnaval romain that Berlioz composed from material in the opera. Valery Gergiev is known for his great passion to Berlioz’s music.

opera in three acts

Music by Hector Berlioz Libretto by Leon de Wailly and Auguste Barbier,
after Cellini`s MemoirsPerformed in French

Act I Shrove Monday, evening; Balducci’s house
The Pope’s Treasurer Balducci is dissatisfied that the Pope
has invited the Florentine jeweller Benvenuto Cellini to carve
a statue of Perseus when the Pontiff has the services of
the sculptor Fieramosca, to whom Balducci wishes to marry his daughter
Teresa. Balducci is also furious with Cellini as the latter does not hide
his admiration for Teresa and sings romantic songs beneath her window at night.
Understanding that she cannot rely on her father’s blessing, Teresa agrees to
Cellini’s proposal to elope on Carnival night. Fieramosca overhears
the lovers discussing their plot and resolves to stop them.

Act II Shrove Tuesday, evening; the Piazza
Colonna In a taverna on the Piazza Colonna, Cellini is
feasting with his friends and observing the preparations of the actors
in Cassandro’s wandering troupe for the Carnival performance. But
there is no more money for wine and the innkeeper demands payment.
Fortunately Cellini’s devoted student Ascanio arrives, bringing the advance
fee for the statue of Perseus. It is true that this fee is niggardly as
Balducci, the Papal Treasurer, is known as a notorious miser
throughout Rome. The friends resolve to persuade the actors to mock
the Treasurer in the satirical pantomime King Midas or
the Ass’s Ears. Meanwhile, Fieramosca, having called on
the bandit Pompeo to help, considers how to prevent Cellini eloping with
Teresa. The audience assembles for the performance. Among them are
Balducci, Teresa and Cellini and his student Ascanio dressed in monks’
cowls. Balducci, enraged at the parody of himself he has seen
in the performance, threatens the actors that he will denounce
them to the Pope. In the emerging chaos Teresa wishes to flee
with Cellini but sees four monks instead of two. The second two Fieramosca
and Pompeo. A dispute ensues and Cellini kills Pompeo. The sculptor
manages to conceal himself and Fieramosca is arrested.

Act III Scene 1. Ash Wednesday (the first day
of Lent), dawn; Cellini’s studio A religious procession passes by
the windows of Cellini’s studio. Teresa and Ascanio are praying for his
salvation. A moment later, to the joy of both, Cellini appears. He has
decided to abandon work on the statue and flee with Teresa to Florence
immediately. But the lovers’ path is barred by Balducci and Fieramosca, who
has been released from prison. The Treasurer demands that Teresa marry
Fieramosca. Cellini threatens to murder Fieramosca if the latter so much as
touches Teresa. The dispute is interrupted by the arrival of
the Pope who has come to see Cellini’s work. Observing that the statue
of Perseus is not ready the Pope declares that he will give
the commission to another sculptor. In despair Cellini wants to smash
the plaster model, but the Pope gives him until the evening to
complete it and presents an ultimatum: if Perseus is finished by nightfall
the Pope will pardon all his sins and he will be permitted to marry Teresa.
If not, he will be executed.

Scene 2. Evening the same day; the smelting house of Cellini’s
studio Ascanio is impatiently awaiting his teacher’s “bronze
masterpiece”. But Cellini despairs: at every turn he encounters more and more
obstacles. Fieramosca appears and challenges him to a duel. Teresa tries to
prevent her beloved going to the duel, but Cellini assures her there is no
danger. He departs, and immediately the studio is overrun by Cellini’s
workers. They are on strike as they have not received their wages for
a long time. But when Fieramosca appears again to bribe them and make them
work for him (the duel was a mere pretence to get Cellini out of his
house) their devotion to their master takes the upper hand. They are just
about to throw the schemer into the furnace when Cellini returns.
Frightened to death, Fieramosca agrees to work for his former rival. Pope
Clement and Balducci arrive. Work on the statue commences.
In the smelting process, however, it emerges that there is
insufficient metal. Cellini then throws all of the jewellery he has
previously made into the furnace. When the mould is broken all are
faced with Perseus Holding Medusa’s Head. All are delighted.
The sculptor has been saved and he receives Teresa’s hand in marriage.